A man died in Gatineau, Quebec, after a powerful storm devastated the region on Saturday afternoon, knocking down trees and hydro poles, damaging vehicles and leaving tens of thousands without electricity.
The 51-year-old woman was aboard a boat on the Ottawa River in the Masson-Angers metropolitan area when she capsized, Gatineau police told Radio-Canada.
The woman fell into the water and was taken to hospital, where she was found dead, police said.
A man in the western part of Ottawa has also suffered “serious injuries”, the Ottawa Police Department said in a press release Saturday night.
Environment Canada issued warnings of severe thunderstorms earlier in the day for parts of eastern Ontario, which includes the nation’s capital and communities south and west.
At 3:18 p.m., a line of storms from approximately Denby, Ont., To Calaboga, Ont., Was moving northeast at approximately 90 km / h, Environment Canada reported.
The agency said thunderstorms were potentially capable of producing winds of 130 km / h and hail the size of the little one.
A tornado is also possible, with Environment Canada calling it a “dangerous and potentially life-threatening situation” in its warning.
A fallen tree lies on the other side of rue Lyon in the Center on May 21, 2022, after Ottawa was hit by a major thunderstorm. (Michelle Allen / CBC)
Environment Canada lifted the warnings shortly after 4:30 p.m.
After the storm subsided, many residents shared photos on social media of the damage – including the Knoxdale-Maryvale Cone. Keith Egley, who walked around his ward and said the situation “didn’t look good.”
I just go through the community and it doesn’t look good. pic.twitter.com/uWz96T83AN
– @ KeithEgli
Ottawa police said dozens of people were trapped in their vehicles due to broken power lines and live wires. The storm also caused two gas leaks, they said, and destroyed a barn in rural West Ottawa.
People should not travel, the forces said, urging people to call only 911 for emergencies.
The Ottawa Fire Service said it was dealing with calls for downed wires, downed trees, motor vehicle accidents and structural crashes.
In Stitsville, the roof of an apartment building collapsed, causing “severe damage”, the fire department said in a tweet.
Another man was trapped under a fallen tree on Brigade Avenue near Sunside Drive, they said.
Ottawa police and ambulance crews were called in as many trees fell, power lines fell and other damage from the storm in the Ottawa region as a result of a thunderstorm this afternoon. There are reports of injuries. The teams appreciate. #ottawa
– @OttawaPolice
Big breaks
Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson tweeted that the storm was “massive” and that the city’s emergency operations center had been “activated”.
“We have a full compliment from the city and water teams that are clearing the roads [restoring] power, “Watson wrote.” It was a huge storm and we beg your patience. “
At 5:30 p.m., Hydro Ottawa reported power outages affecting nearly 120,000 people, while similar figures were reported for Hydro-Québec in Outaouais.
Power lines were also on the road in several places, with police closing the eastern lanes of Highway 174 near Trim Road around 5:20 p.m.
A car was parked on Greenbank Road amid broken power lines on May 21, 2022 after a powerful storm tore through the Ottawa region. (Brian Morris / CBC)
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